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ISG completes refurbishment of largest stadium in the UAE

ISG has announced completing the refurbishment of Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium, one of the oldest sports facilities in the UAE.

ISG said in a statement that refurbishment work was completed in 30 weeks, and included the renovation of staff administration offices, VIP lounge area, leasable Grade A offices, the public washrooms, and the entire flooring to the corridors in the upper concourse and ground floors.

Moreover, the company managed the upgrade of fire and life safety systems, including the addition of a fire-fighting system, inclusive of pumps and tanks.

According to ISG, upgrades were also implemented to the existing electromechanical systems, including the replacement of four electrical substations.

The stadium’s new fit out features sustainable components like intelligent lighting to reduce energy consumption; air conditioning units that are connected to the building management system, allowing for air flow to be monitored and controlled; and cooling and fire suppression systems that don’t contribute to ozone depletion.

The stadium reportedly remained live while refurbishment works were being carried out, continuing to host several sports events.

Steve Ramsden, managing director for Middle East at ISG, said: "ISG was appointed to undertake the Zayed Sports City Stadium refurbishment with the knowledge that it had to be completed ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup UAE, which took place recently.

“This is the second time that ISG is entrusted with a mission-critical project that is linked to the stadium and our team, once again, delivered."

The company noted that this presented challenges ranging from logistical and operational, particularly with the upgrade of the electrical substations and air handling units, which meant planning and scheduling shutdowns, while keeping the building fully operational.

Built in 1979, Zayed consists of 43,000 seats and is the largest stadium in the UAE. It has undergone a number of refurbishments over the years, including a 2009 fit-out upgrade, which ISG also delivered ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup held that year.